The Mighty Casey

Jack Warden plays a professional Baseball manager of the perennial losers the Hoboken Zephyrs, who one day is approached by a mysterious inventor who promises him a chance to reverse his team's misfortune by giving his android named Casey a chance at play. Skeptical but desperate, the manager gives Casey a chance, and is astonished and delighted when Casey hits home-run after home-run, becoming a media sensation and giving the Zephyrs a fighting chance at the pennant until Casey's identity is threatened with exposure... Warden makes this otherwise featherweight episode tolerable, though remains among the least efforts in the canon. Will appeal most to Baseball fans.

This Twilight Zone episode tends to be a bit whimsical, a tale that could have come from the pen of a Damon Runyon or a Paul Gallico. It's another Joe Hardy type player who comes to the Zephyrs and moves them considerably up in the baseball standings.

It's mighty Casey, a pitcher who is a robot played by Robert Sorrells and who was created by Abraham Sofaer who must be a baseball fan because Casey has built into him a fast ball like Sandy Koufax and a sweeping curve like Warren Spahn. Casey is mowing them down at the plate and the Zephyrs are on the move to the delight of their manager Jack Warden.

As for Paul Harvey's 'rest of the story'. One can look to Star Trek the Next Generation and Data's quest to become more human. Or even more simply to Jack Haley's wish in The Wizard Of Oz.

Not a strong episode, the premise was weak and the message unclear. The acting was decent, but again too weak of a storyline to be enjoyable.

Hapless Hoboken baseball team hopes to turn fortunes around by employing unbeatable robot as star pitcher. In the process, however, they get a surprise.

A rather tragic episode whose attempt at whimsy doesn't come off despite winning performance by gangly Robert Sorrells as the genial robot. Apparently the production was almost wrapped when the star Paul Douglas suddenly died. As a result, much had to be reshot on a hurry-up schedule using Jack Warden. And it shows. As reviewer Mulrooney points out, the direction is "merciless", to say the least. Sorry to say, an inferior entry.

Interesting to compare current steroid scandal in major league baseball with premise of this show. Whereas robotic Sorrells has to become more "human' to stay in the league, some major leaguers now work at an edge by becoming more bionic. Ironically, the Mighty Casey's process is being reversed by today's homerun sluggers chasing the big bucks whatever the human cost. Although the episode may stand as an artistic bust, it does remain oddly topical.

I love the fact that Rod Serling paid $27,000 out of his own pocket to cast Jack Warden. The reason why is under "Trivia" for this particular episode. All I will say is that reason was sad. Regardless, I have always admired the range of Jack Warden, so it's great seeing him in this.